Bridge closed in southeastern Lee County

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By Robbie Ward/NEMS Daily Journal

TUPELO – Due to unsafe conditions, the bridge crossing Boguegaba Creek on County Road 878 near Richmond closed Monday after Lee County Supervisors voted to close it until further notice.
County officials learned of the rotten wood, corroding and cracked steel and other damage to the bridge on Friday, said District 2 Supervisor Billy Joe Holland.
Supervisors voted unanimously to declare a state of emergency on the structure in the southeastern part of the county.
“Just driving across it, you wouldn’t think anything was wrong with it,” Holland said.
But photos from the recent report showed cracks along metal holding up the structure and broken wood underneath.
Lee County Road Manager Tim Allred said between 150 to 200 vehicles passed on the bridge daily.
Built in 1950, the one-lane bridge was inspected in November. Estimates are up to $1 million to make the structure safe, said Carrson Neal, county engineer.
While it’s not known how long the bridge will be out of commission, funding to repair it will come from the state Local System Bridge Program.
The bridge along County Road 185 in the southwestern corner of the county remains out of service while a new bridge is installed.
robbie.ward@journalinc.com